A/N: Thank you so much for those following and reviewing. I finally finished this chapter. It was difficult to get through so I had a bit of brainstorming. Please enjoy and let me know what you think!
Chapter 11: The Beach Pt. 2
As they arrived at the mansion, Amelia grabbed her beach bag, heading inside the castle-like structure. Nekozawa opened the door allowing them in. She was quiet in the car. She didn't feel like speaking to anyone about the incident. Something was hitting her stomach hard with nerves. Nekozawa stepped aside as he closed the door behind them.
"Let me show you to your rooms," he insisted in his deep distinctive tone. "It's just down the hall."
Amelia followed him noticing the others following not too far behind. The place was massive. And only lit by candlelight. Nekozawa motioned the first real door across from a few painted portraits of supposedly family members. He opened the door.
"Here you are Imai," Nekozawa directed. Amelia smiled slightly nodding gratefully.
"Is there a bathroom nearby?" she questioned. Nekozawa pointed in the room.
"Of course every bedroom has a bathroom attached. The door to your right," he grinned. "Now Hitachiin brothers, your room is next."
Amelia glanced at them before making her way inside, closing the door behind her. The twins looked at the others.
"I guess the game is over?" they asked in a whisper.
"Not necessarily," Kyoya replied. "The only difference is Tamaki not speaking to them until they apologize. So it seems unlikely that he'll get over it anytime soon."
"Well I don't know about you guys but after what happened with Ima-chan and Haru-chan I'm not going to play that silly game anymore," Honey mentioned. Mori nodded in agreement. Tamaki tried not to glance at Haruhi in front of him who was completely ignoring him.
"Hitachiins," Nekozawa directed the twins to the room. The twins grabbed their things throwing it on the beds.
"Uh are there any lights?" Hikaru questioned.
"The lights of the candles. I try to keep the place dark to soothe my soul," Nekozawa stated.
"Right…" the twins chimed in a rather disturbed mode. Nekozawa lead the rest of the group to their rooms.
Amelia cracked her door slightly as they left. She searched around her room trying to turn on the lights but it was useless. None of the lamps worked. She rolled her eyes in frustration before noticing the candles. She grabbed a few of them, and lit as many as she could.
"How am I supposed to shower with just candlelight…" she groaned in annoyance. She started lighting all the candles trying to create as much light as she could with what she had.
She ran the water of the showerhead, trying to make it as warm as she could without it being uncomfortable. She went back into the bedroom going through her suitcase on the bed. She searched through her clothes resting them on the bed and grabbing a nearby towel. She stripped of her sweatshirt as she headed to the bathroom.
When she stopped in front of the mirror, she noticed the very ripped rash guard shirt. She swallowed hard. Something bad could've really happened to her…and that was frightening. With her parents gone all the time, there sometimes seemed to be no way for her to be comfortable. And after today…she realized just how vulnerable she could be.
She took off the rest of her clothes hopping into the shower. She scrubbed all the sand, sweat, everything that would remind her of that day. Running her fingers forcefully through her hair she scrubbed. She tried breathing slowly. The event impacted her more than she realized. No one had said anything to her since it happened. Since something terrible almost happened. She put her arms around her waist where the man touched her. She remembered feeling his hands about to run up her shirt but thank God it didn't happen. If it weren't for the others, she thought. So why was she suddenly sick to talk to them now?
Amelia brushed it off. After getting fully cleansed of the beach, she headed back to her bedroom. She dried off quickly, grabbing her clothes. She looked over at her suitcase noticing something odd. Something shiny.
Amelia reached down, grabbing the shining object, realizing it was a necklace. Underneath was a note. She furrowed her brows in curiosity, unfolding the note reading: "Imai, this was something your father was saving for your past birthday. I'd forgotten about it until it passed. Found it in his office when I was cleaning up. It was something to remind you of your legacy and your name. As he always told you, 'don't forget who and what you are. You're a wolf with and without an 'e'.' Have a fun trip Imai…your father would be proud of you… - Isao."
Amelia opened her hand around the necklace. It was a silver pendent of a wolf's head on a silver chain. She smiled slightly at it.
"Thanks Dad…" she whispered, putting on the necklace around her neck. She wore black studded earrings accompanied by a simple leather bracelet around wrist. She changed quickly into a tight black tank top, jean shorts (not too short) and a red button down long-sleeve shirt, while slipping on her roman style black sandals. She brushed and scrunched her hair dry, realizing her hair curled making it different than the straight short hair that she showed off at school. She threw the towel in the bathroom as she headed out the door. As she closed the door, the lights of the entire house suddenly turned on, creating a bright atmosphere.
Amelia could here a loud screech following a door slamming far off down the hall.
Nekozawa. Positive it was (since no one shrieks like he does). Amelia shook her head following the voices building from down the hall. It lead her to some kind of sitting room. Haruhi stood with the others, apparently causing a scene just by being in a dress.
"Dad's been repacking my bags again and making me wear this stuff," Haruhi complained.
"Good job Dad!" Hikaru, Kaoru and Honey exclaimed with a smile.
"Oh Haruhi you look so cute!" Honey exclaimed. Amelia peeked in as the twins sat Haruhi down. Kaoru began messing with her hair while Hikaru started putting slippers on her feet. Amelia leaned on the door, one arm along the frame, her other hand on her hip crossing her legs comfortably. Tamaki was staring at Haruhi to the point where he got a nosebleed.
"Look bloody nose…" Haruhi pointed at Tamaki. The twins took her away from Tamaki immediately, teasing him mercilessly.
"For shame pervert!" Hikaru scolded.
"Horny! Creepy!" Kaoru added with the same tonality.
"How could I get a bloody nose from an unruly daughter?!" Tamaki exclaimed in protest. Amelia laughed a bit. The twins perked up in the Amelia's direction. The others turned noticing Amelia in her femininely fit attire showing off her slender legs (which never happens).
Tamaki furrowed his brows, then jaw dropped as she walked in. She smirked when she realized he was worse seeing both of his "daughters" actually dress the way of their genders. Before he could do or say anything, Honey karate chopped him in the face (for some reason thinking it would stop the nose bleed).
"Feeling better Amelia?" Kyoya questioned.
"The shower helped a lot," Amelia replied rubbing the back of her neck nervously. Kyoya smiled, his eyes on her for a moment, but then to the others. Amelia couldn't tell if he was looking at her differently. But his vibe seemed slightly different. She just couldn't figure out how.
"Now that everyone's here, shall we head for the dining room?" Kyoya suggested.
"Sure, we're starving," the twins agreed.
The group started down the dark hallways (even with the lights) making their way into the dining room. The smell of food was rather comforting. As they entered, everyone took their seats around the long table. Amelia sat down next to Hikaru as Kaoru stood next to Haruhi.
"We got giant tuna for Haruhi!" Honey announced.
"Good for you Haruhi, what'll you have?" Kaoru grinned.
"Step back bloody nose! You'll spoil the food!" Hikaru scolded as Tamaki walked up to the table. The king growled, hastily sitting himself down next to Haruhi as she was about to eat some of the giant tuna.
"I'll have the…" Haruhi began but Tamaki shoved all the giant tuna he could fit into his mouth. Everyone looked at him disgusted as Haruhi looked more than a little upset that she couldn't actually eat the meal she wanted. It was like he kicked a puppy and put it out in the rain.
"Idiot," Amelia spat under her breath as she reached over for a glass of water, sipping it while watching the battle of food unfold. She grabbed about three crab legs, putting it on her plate. The members watched as Haruhi tried to stab Tamaki with a fork every time he tried to reach for the crab. Amelia rolled her eyes at the immature behavior as she ate quietly, finishing one crab leg at a time. She was rather tense the entire meal.
As Tamaki tried to reach for Amelia's last crab leg and she did the same thing as Haruhi. He yelped in surprise.
"What are you two the twins?!" Tamaki scolded.
"What? I thought you weren't talking to us," Haruhi remarked plainly, unfazed by his pissed behavior.
"Oh Daddy's surprised about us not sharing. Come after my food I dare you," Amelia smirked, twirling the fork in her fingers.
"Fine! If you two have no reason to reconsider apologizing, then I'm going to bed!" Tamaki announced. Although that aggressive behavior faded as soon as a male servant came up, willing to lead him back down the very dimly lit hallway.
"Kyoya…" Tamaki addressed almost begging.
"All right I'll turn in early. Just give me a moment," Kyoya gave in, getting up from his seat. As soon as the door closed behind them, everyone seemed to relax a bit more.
"Geez well he's still totally bent out of shape," Hikaru commented.
"Haruhi stop eating so much crab you'll get sick," Kaoru recommended as Haruhi chewed on one of the legs for meat. Hikaru looked at Amelia sitting next and eyed her, turning a little red.
"Hey Amelia," Kaoru began, making her eyes dart up to him, nerves suddenly appearing in her stomach again. "You haven't said anything since we left the beach. You okay?"
Amelia hesitated. Looks like we're going to have a party after all aren't we boys? Get your filthy paws off of her!
The voices of the day were springing back.
"Yeah…I just…thought I could take care of myself you know?" Amelia said lightly.
"Do you think I should learn karate or something?" Haruhi asked. Everyone looked at the girls.
"I don't think that's going to help. You heard him…we were idiots for even trying to help those girls on our own…" Amelia objected, looking down at her plate.
"So…he did get to you didn't he?" Kaoru asked. It bothers them, he thought.
"I don't think self defense is the real issue today," Hikaru pushed. Amelia looked between him and the others.
"You should apologize for worrying us," Honey suggested.
"You mean…we worried you?" Haruhi asked. Amelia put her hands over her eyes. That was it. She felt so lost not knowing what was bugging her. She remembered how she shook when she watched Hikaru and Kaoru beat the other two guys to the ground. She couldn't believe there were people outside her family willing to protect her. She was feeling…guilty.
"I'm sorry…" Haruhi stated lightly. Amelia looked at them, swallowing hard in embarrassment.
"Me too," Amelia agreed. The members all squeezed, hugging the girls tightly in their grip.
"Awww we forgive you, you cute little dolls!" the twins doted as they squeezed. Haruhi's face turned green.
"Haruhi? Are you suffocating?" Kaoru asked.
"Sick…" Haruhi groaned.
"I told you! You ate too much crab!" Kaoru groaned. Before they knew it, Mori was running Haruhi to the nearest restroom, the others following. Amelia followed them as Mori quickly put Haruhi into one of the rooms.
"What's all the commotion?" a deep voice asked demandingly. Amelia turned seeing a very handsome blonde haired and blue-eyed boy she never recognized.
"Uh…" Amelia looked at him questioningly.
"Master you forgot your wardrobe," the female servant observed, quickly changing the boy into the cloak and wig along with the strange cat puppet. Nekozawa?!
"What is the meaning of this?" he sang.
"All right this is crazy and I'm going back to my room," Amelia announced. The twins looked her as she left.
"Wait Imai," they announced.
Amelia waved a hand at them as she headed back to her room.
…
Amelia walked into her bedroom, turning on the light as she closed the door behind her gently. She grabbed her mp3 player, attaching it to a stereo system, turning on a bit of music as she walked back over to the bed. She plopped onto the bed softly lying on her back staring at the ceiling. She grabbed the note Isao gave her, clutching it in her grasp.
Don't forget who you are. You're a wolf, her mind repeated. She could see her father saying that to when she was young. She didn't understand it at the time. But now that she was older, she noticed that she was starting to become what he wanted. She needed to change to really be a wolf. So…what does a wolf do? Or…did she even need to ask that question? Was she already one and she didn't know it?
She closed her eyes listening to the music playing, not realizing she was drifting into sleep. Then her dreams came to her quickly:
She could see the leader grab her wrist, warping her image of another man pulling her back.
"Let's have a party," the leader grinned. She felt a hand over her mouth.
"Amelia?" she heard a voice call out that was familiar. She closed her eyes as she struggled.
"Hold her…" the leader grinned.
"Be a wolf…" the voice encouraged. She struggled more, eyes still closed as she screamed behind the man's mouth. Be…a…wolf. Her eyes opened with a golden glow instead of her natural color.
"Amelia!" another voice whispered harshly. She felt a hand on her wrist, forcing her to wake up.
Amelia gasped seeing a silhouette of someone leaning over her. Her self-defense triggered, grabbing the hand that was around her wrist, putting another hand on his shoulder.
"What the-?" he questioned, grabbing her other arm but she pushed into him, rolling him over onto his back on the other side of the bed. She landed on top, putting her legs around his waist.
Amelia froze as her hands tightened, pinning the stranger's wrists to the bed. Her eyes adjusted realizing it was Kyoya, his glasses were tossed off the bed and onto the floor. Her eyes widened at the mistake.
"Kyoya," she whispered.
"Were you expecting someone to sneak in to your room?" he questioned quietly amused.
"No…" she replied, not moving from her place on top of him, still in shock mode.
Kyoya smirked. The smirk gave her chills. Without his glasses he looked…different. He eyed her for a moment. His vibe changed.
"That's quite an interesting reaction," Kyoya stated lowly. Amelia swallowed loosening her hands from his wrists. He noticed, pulling out one of his arms pushing her to the side to land on her back. She didn't have enough time to yelp as she rolled over, watching Kyoya get on top of her, hovering over her.
"Kyoya…" she whispered harshly.
"But not enough to keep me there," Kyoya smirked. Amelia felt chills seeing him hover over her in this way. Kyoya eyed her with interest.
"It's interesting. Sometimes I forget how much of a woman you really are," he commented.
"Yeah, so?" Amelia questioned, swallowing hard.
"You think you're strong, but after today, you just proved one thing to yourself," Kyoya began his voice getting low. "You're only a woman to any other man who looks at you. So what will you do if a man makes you helpless?"
Amelia looked at him for a moment. He eyed her, his hand resting on the bed near her neck and shoulders. She noticed, looking up and smirked.
"What?" he questioned smirking back. She grinned mischievously.
"Do you honestly think I'm helpless?" she asked. Kyoya raised his brows at her. Her hand reached up resting on one shoulder.
"Whether you realize it or not Kyoya," Amelia began her voice getting low and smooth, putting her other hand on the opposite shoulder. Kyoya glanced at her hands. She leaned up inches from his face. She could hear him hold his breath.
"I bite back…" She growled in a whisper.
Her legs came out from under her, wrapping and locking her legs around his waist, catching him by surprise. She wrapped her arms around him, keeping him close to her shoulders while rolling him onto his back. She was again on top, putting a hand on his sternum forcefully instead of his throat. He looked up at her, laughing a bit.
"Good," he breathed. That's when she noticed his old expression come back. The Kyoya she knew from the club. His original vibe she knew, was back. She relaxed, hopping off of him, allowing herself to sit beside him. Kyoya glanced over at her as he reached down onto the floor grabbing his glasses.
"Definitely took me by surprise," he admitted, laughing slightly.
"I took a few classes with a friend of mine who taught me ground fighting," Amelia breathed. "It helps with being alone not being helpless."
"After today I was a bit…concerned to say the least," Kyoya mentioned, putting on his glasses. "I did this because…I wanted to make sure you realized what could've happened."
Amelia nodded in understanding.
"I already did," she admitted quietly. "I…am sorry that you and the others had to rescue me. And were worried."
"So I see you're not afraid of that kind of situation. Seeing as you're not as vulnerable as I predicted," Kyoya observed.
"I won't be if I can help it," Amelia remarked. Kyoya smiled getting up.
"I'll make sure we'll never have that happen again," he informed, going to the door. Amelia got up, following him.
"Just…try to be careful. I'm sorry if I startled you," he recommended. She grabbed the door as he opened it, nodding in response. He smiled slightly.
She smiled slightly in return as he left her alone.
Well looks like I failed that game, Kyoya thought as walked further down the hallway. But you have nothing to worry about my dear.
…
"Amelia…" a voice chimed in the rather dark forest. She looked around, seeing that the leader and his group were chasing after her. She ran, running further into the darkness. She could hear music in the background as well as rumbling in the distance. Almost like thunder. As she stopped, she saw her father standing in the darkness.
He smiled.
"Amelia," he grinned. Amelia ran to her father away from those chasing her. But as she reached him to hug him, he disappeared in thin air. She opened her eyes wide, seeing no sign of her father.
Instead large eyes approached her, a vicious growl.
"Amelia," the same voice chimed in a harsh whisper. The wolf growled and suddenly jumped at her. The rumbling was louder and the music stopped, leaving it completely silent. All she heard was a howl.
BANG! The thunder rumbled so loud that Amelia awoke from her dream terrified. She looked around the room panicked. She reached for her lamp but it wouldn't turn on. A power surge, she thought, looking around seeing that the candles were low in their holders. No matches were around. Shit, she panicked. She felt herself shaking being alone in the pitch-black darkness. She grabbed her phone and it was dead. No light. Shit! she panicked again. No indication of time, nothing.
She felt her heart race. She had to find someone to be near her or it wouldn't end well.
"I need to get out," she whispered panicking. She left her phone on her bed, running to where towards the main door. She hung onto it for a moment.
"Okay, one…two…three," she whispered to herself. She was sweating as she leaned onto the door, opening it wide into the very dark hallway. She didn't even close her door, she just took baby steps, keeping her shaking hand onto the wall as she walked. They're just down the hall, she thought to herself. She heard nothing but the rumbling and her bare feet stepping onto the hard floor. It was a good ways down the hall. Every time she looked up when the lighting hit into the windows, she whimpered.
It wasn't the storm she was scared of. It was the castle so dark that she couldn't even see with her eyes wide open. She skidded across the wall, finally feeling a doorframe. She grabbed the knob, jiggling it slightly, realizing it was locked. The last of the candles went out in the hall. Now it was even darker than before. She was shaking uncontrollably.
"Help…" she cried quietly. She slid down the wall, feeling herself curl up in a ball, her eyes welling up in tears. She knocked weakly at the door as she closed her eyes, not wanting to see the never-ending looking hallway light up from the lightning. She was whimpering and she didn't realize it.
Kaoru looked towards the door, hearing faint knocks and jiggling of the handle.
"Hikaru? Do you hear that?" Kaoru asked. Hikaru looked at him before looking at the door. He got up with Kaoru following close behind.
"This place is creepy," Kaoru commented. "You don't think it's Nekozawa trying to trick us do you?"
"I doubt it…it's 1am. If he's bothering us this late I would think he didn't have anything better to do," Hikaru whispered back. They went up to the door, putting an ear to it.
"Help…anybody," Amelia's whimpered from the door. Hikaru furrowed his brows.
"Is that?" Hikaru questioned, unlocking the door and opening it. Amelia looked over seeing the door open, crawling quickly inside before the twins could react.
"Ah! What was that?!" the twins exclaimed jumping out of the way of some huge shadow rushing into the room. Amelia disappeared on the other side of the bed towards the window. Hikaru and Kaoru were shaking from the encounter.
"Grab a flashlight," Kaoru whispered harshly. Hikaru grabbed one he kept in his backpack, turning it on. They heard sniffling and crying at the other side of the bed. The twins approached the bed carefully.
"Hello?" they asked. Amelia was still too panicked to speak. Kaoru approached the bed carefully as they shined a light on her, finally seeing her as more than a shadow.
"Imai?" Hikaru questioned. She looked up at them, tears falling down her face. Hikaru immediately went over sitting down next to her, turning the flashlight off while Kaoru ran to the other side of her. "What are you doing here?"
"What happened? Why are you crying?" Kaoru asked, moving her jaw lightly to face towards him. Amelia looked at him, swallowing hard. Kaoru looked at her worriedly.
"Did Nekozawa scare you?" Hikaru questioned. Amelia bit her lip immediately wrapping her arms around Kaoru's waist, holding him tightly.
"Don't leave me in the dark…" she whimpered. The twins looked at her confused.
"But…I thought you weren't afraid of the dark," Hikaru mentioned. "We took you through the cave and you were fine."
"I still saw light," she corrected, crying, trying to stop. "I have nightmares…all the time. I can't sleep in the dark alone in the silence. It makes me scared."
The twins looked at each other.
"But aren't you alone at the house?" Kaoru asked.
"I have to put on music or the TV, sometimes I don't even sleep in my room. I hate the dark when I'm alone."
"Imai…shhh," Kaoru whispered in sympathy, putting his arms around her.
"I don't want to go back to my room. I don't want to be alone again," Amelia cried lightly. She felt so hopeless sometimes. She was shaking as Kaoru hugged her.
She felt Hikaru come in closer, grabbing her from Kaoru, pulling her into his lap and wrapping his arms around her.
"It's okay Amelia," Kaoru whispered. "You're safe now, okay?"
"You can stay with us tonight. You can use the spare bed in here," Hikaru nodded, resting his chin on her head. She nodded, hugging him tightly. Kaoru smiled slightly.
"I halfway don't blame her…it is dark and scary out there," Kaoru laughed slightly. "Thanks to Nekozawa's lifestyle."
Amelia calmed down, resting her head on Hikaru's chest. She felt Kaoru sit next to them, allowing her legs propped up on him. As she began to fall asleep, she didn't realize that they saved her twice that day.
"Thank you…" Amelia muttered half asleep. The twins looked at her sweetly and then at each other smirking as she fell asleep.
"Looks like we have a bet that we won," Hikaru scoffed as he picked her up, resting her onto the bed gently.
"We'll talk to Kyoya tomorrow," Kyoya smiled slightly. "For now…just let her rest. We might want to check on the boss before heading to bed ourselves."
Hikaru nodded as Kaoru put the blankets over Amelia as she slept soundly.
Didn't realize it was hard for some people to be alone, Kaoru thought as he tucked her in. Then again…I always had someone with me when I was alone.
Kaoru looked at her for a moment smiling.
"Come on before it gets much later," Hikaru insisted quietly. Kaoru looked at him nodding.
"Let's be quick. We don't want her waking up to us not being here," Kaoru recommended, following him out and closing door quietly.
As they walked out, the twins had this odd feeling about her. They just couldn't pin point it yet. All they knew was that it was almost a protective feeling. Which is the first because normally they don't have that with anyone but themselves…